Slack or cuttings removing attachment for kerf-cutting machines



T. E. PRAY June 22, 1943.

SLACK 0R CUTTINGS REMOVING ATTACHMENT FOR KERF-CUTTING MACHINES Filed' March 6, 1942 s sheets-sheet 1 June; 22, 1943. y

T. E. PRAY -SLACK OR CUTTINGS REMOVING ATTACHMENT FOR KERF-CUTTING MACHINES Filed March 6, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 T. E. PRAY 2,322,315 SLACK OR CUTTINGS -REMOVING ATTACHMENT FOR KERF-CUTTING MACHINES June 22, 1943.

3 sheets-sheet s Filed March 6. 1942 Patented June 22, 1943 SLACK R CUTTINGS REMOVING ATTACH- llriENTv FR REEF-CUTTING MACHINES Thomas E. Pray,`-Chicago, Ill.,lassignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company,

corporation of Illinois Application March 6, 1942, Serial No. 433,581 cciaims. (o1. ,c62-2s) This invention relates to improvements iny slack or cuttings removing attachments for kerf-cutting machines of the room and pillar type, and has for its principal object to provide a relatively light, labor saving device of the character-described, capable of easy attachment to or detachment from a Keri-cutting machine of conventional construction.

More particularly, my present invention relates to slack removing devices of the type broadly disclosed in my co-pending application, lwhich has matured into Patent No. 2,278,796, issued April 7, 1942, wherein a conveyor of the continuous flight type is arranged to be driven from the power coupling usually provided for driving the transporting truck from the rear end of the mining machine.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a simplied form of drive gearing and power coupling arrangement organized to aiford an especially efficient, light, and readily detachable device for the intended purpose. A further object is to provide an attachment consisting of a plurality of parts which may be more conveniently handled for. attaching or detaching the device relative to the Keri-cutting machine under the limited space conditions usually available in a mine.

The invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a plan view showingvthe rear end of a kerf-cutting machine with a slack removing device constructed in accordance with my invention attached thereto, and with certain parts broken away and shown in horizontal section;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, with portions of the drive mechanism shown in longitudinal section;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, but drawn to a slightly larger scale;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sidev view showing the rear end of the kerf-cutting machine with the major part of the slack removing device removed so as to be loaded upon a transporting truck;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1; L Y

Figure 6' is an enlarged detail section takenon line G--S oi Figure 2;' and Figure 7 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Referring now toA details of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the slack removing device indicated generally at Ais shown as applied tola Keri-cutting machine of I9, which is adapted to Chicago, Ill., a

the conventional room and pillartype, indicated generally at B, and comprising a main frame I0 having a chain-carrying cutter bar II projecting forwardly from saidV frame. Said cutter bar is supported in an underframe lor cuttings channel disposed below said main frame between side Walls I2, I2 and a base plate I3, said cuttings channel opening as usual to the rear end of the machine. The cutter chain VIll is driven from a chain sprocket I5 operatively driven as will presently be described, by a motor I6 disposed at the front of the frame. Flexible feeding means is also provided as usual, herein consisting oi a pair of winding drums l1, l1 at opposite sides of the machine, suitably driven from the motor I6 and having flexible cables I8, I8 thereon adapted to be `anchored at suitable points along the working face of the mine to feed the cutter bar to the coal. Keri-cutting machines of the character herein described are usually transported from place to place on a wheeled truck such as indicated generally at C in Figure 4, and while mounted on said truck, the latter is driven by power from the motor I6 of the kerf-cutting machine. For this purpose, the running gear of lthe truck C is connected as usual by suitablegearing yto a tongue be moved into operative engagement with a power take-off device at the rear end of the mining machine when the latter is mounted in transporting position on said track. The means for providing such power drive for the truck will more fully appear as description proceeds. Itv will be understood, however, that when the machine is to be used for cutting coal, it is` entirely withdrawn from the truck and is moved over the mine'floor on its own bottom by means of the cables I8, I8. Accordingly, the slack yremoving device is preferably designed for attachment tothe rear end of the kerf-cutting machine only during actual cutting, and the major portion of said-slack removing device is detached from the mining machine when the machine is loaded on its truck for transportation. Y Y y Referring now more particularly to details of the slack removing device A, which'forms the subject matter of the present invention, said de- -vice includes an elongated frame 20 carrying a conveyerA of ther paddle type, Vhereinl consisting of a centrally disposed chain-,guide 2l, having an endless chain 22 movable orbitally thereabout for carrying a plurality of horizontally disposed paddles 23, 23 along a bottom plate 24 extending at 'opposite sides of said chain guide to forma pair of troughs 25, 25. The frame 20 is adapted to be the following v supported at an upwardly and rearwardly inclined angle when attached to the kerf-cutting machine, and has a attened front end portion supported on the rear end of the base plate I3 of said machine in position to receive the cuttings as they are discharged from the rear end of the cutter chain channel, as seen in lFigures 1 and 2..

In the form shown, the bottom plate 24 has a supporting plate 26 secured beneath its forward, horizontal portion in position to abut the rear edge of the base plate I3 of the mining machine, while a forwardly rounded front end portion 24a of the bottom plate overlaps the edge of said base plate, as shown in Figures l and 2.

The lower or front end of the conveyer frame 2|! is detachably mounted relative to the machine frame I D, as by hooks 21, 21 hinged on pivots 28, 28 on the outer sides of the troughs 25, 25, and extending forwardly to engage pins 29, 29 on the side walls I2, I2 of the mining machine underframe (see Figures 2 and 3).

The upper or rear end of the conveyer frame is supported in its inclined position by a pair of links 30, 30 hinged on pivots 3|, 3| at opposite sides of the troughs 25, 25 and extending forwardly to pivot pins 3 I a, 3Ia which are preferably mounted for ready detachment on brackets 32, 32 xed on the rear end of the main frame II) above the cuttings discharge opening.

The conveyer chain 22 passes around a drive sprocket 33 having suitable bearing on the flattened front end of the frame 20 as by means of an anti-friction bearing member 34 recessed within said sprocket and mounted on an upstanding annular bearing support 35 secured to the upper face of the bottom plate 24 (see Figure 2). At the upper rear end of the frame 2|) lthe conveyer chain passes around an idler sprocket `36. The links of the conveyer chain 22 are of the usual universal -or double pivoted type commonly employed in paddle type conveyers where, -as here, the conveyer moves in an upwardly curved path.

An upright baffle plate 31 extends rearwardly and inwardly from one sidewall I2 of the cuttings discharge passage so asv-to assist in directing the cuttings toward the conveyer paddles 23. In the formvshown herein, a flexible extension `38 is connected to the rear end of said baffle plate and extends to a point closely adjacent the zone of swinging movement of said paddles, as shown in Figure 1.

The drive sprocket 33 for the conveyer chain is driven through an upright shaft 50 which is connected to the power take-oil" device on the mining machine, as will now be described.

As heretofore constructed 'the power take-off of conventional korf-cutting machines has consisted of a socket member 40 fixed on the rear end of a shaft l4| extending through the rear end of the main frame III. In the form 'of machine shown herein, the shaft 4| is supported in a bearing plate 42 at the rear end of the machine frame,-and is driven lfrom .the motor I6 through suitable gearing (not shown). Said shaft 'also drives 'the cutter chain sprocket I5 of the machine through bevel pinion 43, bevel gear Y44 on hub 45, and a' sliding clutch Amember 46 on said hub, having selective engagement with a clutch ring 41 on sprocket shaft 48.

In providing a drive connection for the slack removing device from thepower take-off socket asaaslt 4B just described, I nd it preferable to provide additional gear reduction for driving the conveyer chain 22. For this purpose a gearing attachment indicated generally at D is provided, to deliver power at reduced speed to the upright drive shaft 50.

In the preferred form shown, the gearing attachment D consists of a casing 5| adapted for detachable connection las a unit to the rear end of the machine frame independently of the conveyer frame 2D. Said casing has a lower part 52 having a vertically disposed bevel gear 53 rotatably mounted therein on its hub and a coacting bevel pinion 54, rotatably mounted on the rear end of a horizontal stub shaft 55, journaled in the forward portion of said casing. A spur gear 56 is xed Von the hub of said bevel pinion `and is meshed with .a spur gear 51 having an elongated hub 58. The latter hub is rotatably mounted in a horizontally split bearing formed by `a cover plate 59. Said hub has an extension shaft 60 fixed therein, which projects forwardly from the casing 5| and is provided with a rectangular rhead adapted to fit in the socket 40 of the power take-off. The gear 51 at the re-ar end of shaft 60 also has a socket 6I formed therein similar in shape to the socket 40. The cover plate 59 has a downwardly offset portion 62 with a rearwardly facing opening affording access to the socket 6|. Accordingly, the gear 51 and shaft 6D form in effect an extension for the power shaft 4I, for detachable connection with the tongue I9 of the truck, and also afford a driving connection for the slack removing device through the reduction gearing in casing 5|.

The gearing attachment D may be suitably connected to the mining machine frame I0, as by bolts 64, 64 passing through flanges 35, 65 formed integrally with the casing 5I (seeFigures 6 and '1). An auxiliary supporting bracket 66 may also be detachab-ly connected to the main frame I0 below the casing 5|, as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The upright drive shaft is preferably provided with a splined lower end 61 so as to be detachably fitted in a correspondingly splined socket 68 of drive sprocket 33. Said drive shaft is also provided with a splined upper end 69, adapted `to be detachably fitted in a correspondingly splined socket 1I) vin the hub of bevel gear 53. It will also be observed that the socket 1I) in gear 53 extends upwardly through said gear, and has a. registering recess 1I in the offset portion 62 of the cover plate 59, so as to permit the lower end of shaft 50 to be raised out of engagement with the lower drive sprocket when desired. This arrangement permits the conveyer member A to Abe removed bodily from the machine B independen'tly-of the upper gearing attachment D.

The use and operation of the slack removing device above described will now be Yexplained as follows: The conveyer frame 20 of attachment A is attached to the main `frame of the mining machine B on-ly 'at such times 'as said machine is dismounted from its transporting truck C, and preferably after the vmachine has been moved into cutting position relative to the working face of the mine. However, the 4gearing attachment D is preferably mounted permanently on the rear end of the mining machine so .as to be carried with the latter even when 'it is mounted on its transporting truck as shown in Figure 4. In this case, the driving vtongue I9 of the mining machine is driven through the extension shaft of the gearing attachment. The conveyer frame can be readily connected wi-th or disconnected from said gearing attachment by manipulation of the upright drive shaft 58 and its splined end connections, as previously described. Thus the operator is required to handle but a part of the entire attachment and is relieved of lifting the substantial weight of the gearing attachment D in the relatively cramped and limited space conditions usually existing in mines.

When in use, the attachment serves to discharge the cuttings on the mine floor at a distance from the rear end of the cutting machine, so as to relieve the machine operator of the labor of shoveling away the cuttings. The attachment can also be employed advantageously in certain systems of mining using a loading conveyer disposed in close proximity along the working face, leaving only a limited space for operating the cutting machine between said loading conveyer and the mine wall. In such a system, the cuttings can -be elevated and discharged directly into the loading conveyer.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I -do not wish to be construed as limiting my invention to the specific embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A cuttings removing device adapted for detachable connection with a kerf-cutting machine, comprising a rearwardly inclined frame having an endless crbitally movable conveyer chain with laterally extending gathering arms thereon, a horizontally rotatable drive sprocket for said conveyer chain mounted on a vertical axis at the front end of said frame, an upright drive shaft adapted for endwise detachable driving engagement in said sprocket, and coupling means adapted for detachable driving connection with a power driven coupling member on the kerf-cuttng machine and affording endwise sliding connection with the upper end of said drive shaft, to permit said drive shaft to be raised out of driving engagement with said drive sprocket.

2. A cuttings removing device comprising a rearwardly inclined frame having an endless orbitally movable conveyer chain with laterally extending gathering arms thereon, a horizontally rotatable drive sprocket for said chain at the front end of said frame, a coupling support adapted for detachable connection with a kerfcutting machine, an upright drive member and a horizontally disposed conveyer drive member adapted for connection with a power driven take-olf member on said kerf-cutting machine, both rotatably mounted in said coupling support and having geared connection with each other, an upright drive shaft adapted for endwise detachable driving connection with said drive sprocket and having endwise slidable movement relative to said drive member, and means alfording independent detachable connection of said conveyer frame and said coupling support respectively, relative to said kerf-cutting machine.

3. A cuttings removing device comprising a rearwardly inclined frame having an endless orbitally movable conveyer chain with laterally extending gathering arms thereon, a horizontally rotatable drive sprocket for said chain at the front end of said frame, a coupling support adapted for detachable connection with a kerfcutting machine, an upright drive member and a horizontally disposed conveyer drive member adapted for connection with a power driven takeoff member on said kerf-cutting machine, both rotatably mounted in said coupling support, and

gear reduction mechanism todrive said upright drive member at a reduced speed, an upright 4drive shaft aifording endwise detachable driving connection between said drive member and said drive sprocket, and means affording independent detachable connection of said conveyer frame and said coupling support respectively, relative to said kerf-cutting machine.

4. A cuttings removing device comprising an elongated rearwardly inclined frame carrying an endless paddle-type conveyer chain, a drive sprocket for said chain at the forward end of said frame, means affording detachable connection of said frame in cuttings-receiving relation with a kerf-cutting machine, a coupling support having a rotatable coupling member adapted for connection with a power-driven take-off member on said kerf-cutting machine to form an extension of said take-off member, and an upright drive shaft affording endwise detachable connection between said drive sprocket and said coupling member so as to permit detachment of said conveyer frame relative to said kerf-cutting machine without disturbing said coupling support.

5. A cuttings removing device comprising a rearwardly inclined conveyer adapted for detachable connection at its forward end in cuttings-receiving relation with a kerf-cutting machine, drive means fcr ysaid conveyer including an upright drive shaft at the forward end of said conveyer, a coupling support for independent connection to the rear end of said kerf-cutting machine, said coupling support having an upright rotatable socket member adapted to be driven by a power take-off member on said kerf-cutting machine, said upright shaft having endwise detachable driving connection at its upper end in said socket member.

6. A cuttings removing device comprising a rearwardly inclined conveyer adapted for detachable connection at its forward end in cuttingsreceiving relation with a kerf-cutting machine, a drive sprocket for said conveyer disposed on a vertical axis at the front end -of said frame, a coupling support adapted for independent connection with the rear end of said kerf-cutting machine in spaced relation above said conveyer, and having a rotatable socket member adapted to be driven by a power take-off on said kerfcutting machine, and an upright drive shaft having its lower end detachably mounted in said drive sprocket, and its upper end detachably mounted in said socket member.

THOMAS E. PRAY. 

